Contributors
We’re delighted to announce that we’ve won Gartner’s Eye on Innovation Award 2025.
The winning submission, "Reshaping for the Quantum Era, engineered for terabit-scale AI demands”, was praised for its forward-facing mindset and ability to leverage technology to create impactful solutions.
The innovation
As quantum computing threatens to render traditional encryption obsolete while AI drives up bandwidth needs, Colt focused on validating future-proof security alongside scalable network capacity. By conducting quantum-safe optical network trials and forming global partnerships for quantum encryption, we’re ensuring our customers are protected against emerging cybersecurity risks. We’ve also made great strides in expanding network capacity using cutting-edge technologies, including industry-first terabit transponder trials and the adoption of 400G and 800G ZR+ optics. These developments enable flexible, high-speed bandwidth offerings that meet growing customer demands.
Additionally, our team has leveraged recent acquisitions to integrate and simplify optical networks, implementing smarter measures to reduce carbon emissions and support sustainability goals. Together, these efforts demonstrate Colt’s commitment to innovation, security and environmental responsibility. This forward-thinking approach not only optimises capacity, space and power, but also positions it to offer customers secure, scalable and sustainable network solutions for the future.
The team
Prasanna Sundaram, Director of Optical & Fibre Engineering at Colt, had this to say about the well-deserved win: “For us in the telco industry, we face a dual imperative: speed and security. As we enter the quantum era, staying ahead of the curve isn’t just strategic but existential — it’s a commitment to our customers. Through this innovation, we’ve demonstrated that Colt continues to push boundaries in support of a better future for our customers. This win was possible due to the persistent dedication and commitment of teams at Colt and our partners, and our culture of Engineering and Innovation.”
It’s not the first time we’ve won this award, either: Gartner crowned Colt for its IQ Network Core Backbone Transformation project in 2023. The analyst house received a record-breaking number of submissions this year, making the win taste all the sweeter. Check out the award win on Gartner’s website.
